Signaling device for rural mailbox

ABSTRACT

A signaling device is disclosed for attachment to a mailbox of the type having an access opening and closure or door therefor movable from a vertical closed position to a generally horizontal open position, in which the device includes a signal member adapted to be supported in an exposed exterior position relative to the box with the mailbox closure in its closed position. Another part of the device is adapted for attachment to the inside surface of the box closure and is coupled to the signal member such that when the closure is opened the signal member is released from its supported position so as to fall downwardly by gravity adjacent the access opening of the box. Upon subsequent closing of the mailbox door, the signal member is carried into the mailbox were it remains hidden from view until repositioned in its supported exposed orientation exteriorly of the box. In this manner, the device signals the owner that mail has been delivered by disappearing from its exposed exterior orientation to a hidden location inside the box thereby avoiding the conventional raised flag announcement to would be mail thieves that the box contains mail. In one embodiment, a holder is adapted to be attached to the inside surface of the box closure for slidably receiving a lower portion of the signal member which is arranged to extend downwardly into the mailbox adjacent the inside closure surface when shut. Opening of the closure releases the signal member from its supported exteriorly exposed position, causing it to slide downwardly by gravity to a retracted position relatively to the closure whereupon it is carried thereby to its hidden position interiorly of the box upon shutting the closure.

United States Patent [191 Clement 3,827,627 Aug. 6, 1974 SIGNALING DEVICE FOR RURAL MAILBOX [76] Inventor: John H. Clement, 340 Wanaao Rd.,

' Kailua, Hawaii 96734 [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 282,424

52 us. Cl. 232/35 [51] Int. Cl A47g 29/12 [58] Field of Search 232/35, 34, 17

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 743,104 2/1903 Roesch 232/35 X 965,426 7/1910 Welch 232/35 968,151 8/1910 Harmon 232/34 1,839,834 1/1932 Coleman.... 232/35 2,815,167 12/1957 Bailes 232/35 2,834,540 5/1958 Hudgins 232/35 X 2,843,316 7/1958 Auger 232/34 3,318,516 5/1967 Scheerer.... 232/35 3,482,543 12/1969 Guidos 232/35 X 3,580,491 5/1971 Campbell 232/35 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel position to a generally horizontal open position, in which the device includes a signal member adapted to be supported in an exposedexterior position relative to the box with the mailbox closure in its closed position. Another part of the device is adapted for attachment to the inside surface of the box closure and is coupled to the signal member such that when the closure is opened the signal member is released from its supported position so as to fall downwardly by gravity adjacent the access opening of the box. Upon subsequent closing of the mailbox door, the signal member is carried into the mailbox were it remains hidden from view until repositioned in its supported exposed orientation exteriorly of the box. In this manner, the device signals the owner that mail has been delivered by disappearing from its exposed exterior orientation to a hidden location inside the box thereby avoiding the conventional raised flag announcement to would be mail thieves that the box contains mail. In one embodiment, a holder is adapted to be attached to the inside surface of the box closure for slidably receiving a lower portion of the signal member which is arranged to extend downwardly into the mailbox adjacent the inside closure surface when shut. Opening of the closure releases the signal member from its supported exteriorly exposed position, causing it to slide downwardly by gravity to a retracted position relatively to the closure whereupon it is carried thereby to its hidden position interiorly of the box upon shutting the closure.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 SIGNALING DEVICE FOR RURAL MAILBOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

In general, the present invention relates to a device or means for signaling delivery of mail at a mail delivery station, and particularly at a rural mailbox. people make unnecessary daily trips to empty mailboxes, often in inclement weather.

Signaling devices which have sought to correct this deficiency provide for automatic actuation or operation of the signaling flag or signaling device by making it responsive to opening or closing of the mailbox door or closure. However, such existing mechanisms generally provide for displacing the signaling means or flag from an out of the way or hidden position to a raised or exposed orientation upon opening of the box by the mailman. Such signals undesirably announce to would be mail thieves, vandals, and others of malevolent intent that mail has been delivered to the box and is available for the taking. The owner of the box would prefer to not advertise this fact to others, and indeed the signaling of mail delivery in the conventional manner is somewhat a violation of the individuals security of his mail. At the very least, it is a violation of the mailbox owners feeling of security about his mail. Most importantly however the conventional signaling device may very We" encourage mail theft. Additionally, such previous automatic devices fail to function unless the mailbox door is opened to theifullest possible extent, or at least by 45 or more. Mailmen in delivery trucks have a tendency to only partially open the mailbox door, dropping the mail through the opening at the top of the door and thereafter closing it, thus failing to actuate these prior mechanisms.

Still other automatic signaling mechanisms require the use of spring loaded attachments or the like increasing the mounting strength requirements for attachment of mechanisms and adding to the cost of manufacture and difficulty of installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ITS OBJECTIVES:

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a signaling mechanism for attachment to a conventional mailbox in which the signal means is displayed exteriorly of the box until mail has been delivered, whereupon opening and closing of the box closure causes the signaling means to disappear so as to avoid the conventional mail delivery signal which may attract mail thievery or vandalism. Of course, the owner of the box is aware of the meaning of his signaling mechanism and thus by its disappearance is made aware of the occurance of a mail delivery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signaling mechanism which is normally disposed in an exposed exterior position relative to the box and signals delivery of the mail by being automatically moved or displaced to a position interiorly of the box and thus hidden from view.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a signaling mechanism which is economical to mass manufacture and is easily attached to a conventional mailbox. In this respect, it is an advantage of ing-give away convenience or accessory for rural mailbox owners.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a signaling device that anyone can afford and install without tools or mechanical ability.

Generally stated, these objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a signaling device adapted for attachment to a mailbox of the type including a door or closure movable from a generally vertical closed orientation to a generally horizontal opened position relative to a box or container access opening. A signal member includes a shoulder means which is adapted to be supported by an upper exterior surface of the container so that the signal extends in an upright exposed orientation relative to the box and is held in this supported exposed condition by a peripheral flange of the closure when shut. Another part of the device is adapted to be attached to the inside surface of the closure, preferably by a pressure sensitive adhesive. This part attached to the inside closure surface is coupled to a lower portion of the signal member which extends interiorly of the mailbox when the closure is shut. This coupling provides for dislodging the signal member from its supported position upon opening of the closure and for allowing it to move downwardly by the force of gravity to a position in registration with the container access opening. Subsequent closure of the door after the mail has been inserted carries the signal member to a position interiorly of the box whereupon it remains hidden from view until the owner removes the mail and repositions the member. In one embodiment, the part for attachment to the closure is provided by a holder slidably receiving the lower extended portion of the signaling member.

These and further objects and various advantages of the signaling device according to the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the signaling device in accordance with the present invention, shown detached from a mailbox.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional rural mailbox with the signaling device of FIG. I mounted therein with the signal shown in its upstanding exposed position exteriorly of the box with the box door or closure shut.

FIG. 3 is a enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the mailbox and attached signaling device of FIG. 2 taken generally along the plane indicated by III-III therein and showing a moved position of the closure by dotted lines.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the signaling device as attached to the inside surface of the mailbox closure as seen from IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the signal portion of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the signaling device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view such as in FIG. 5 of a further alternative embodiment of the signal portion of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION:

The signaling device constructed in accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 is adapted for easy attachment to a conventional rural mailbox of the type having a horizontally mounted generally elongate container 11 formed with an access opening 12 at one end thereof and with a movable closure for such opening, here in the form of door or closure 13 pivotally mounted along a lower horizontal edge for swinging between a vertical closed position and a generally horizontal opened position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The signaling device of FIG. 1' comprises a signal member 16 providing a signal means here in the form of a circular signal portion 17, which may be provided with a easily visible bright or fluorescent color such that when mounted in an exposed position exteriorly of the mailbox will be easily seen from a distance. Means are provided for supporting signal member 16 in such an exposed position exteriorly of the box as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, here in the form of shoulder means 18 of member 16 affixed to signal portion 17 and arranged to engage an upper exterior surface perimeter 19 of container 11 adjacent opening 12 as shown. From this position signal member 16 and particularly signal portion 17 is movable to a hidden position relative to the box, preferably interiorly thereof.

To cause such movement means are provided in the form of a holder 21 shown in FIG. 1, adapted as a mounting member for easy attachment to the mailbox, preferably to an inside surface 22 of closure 13 as best shown in FIG. 4, for displacing or moving the signaling means of member 16 to a hidden position interiorly of the mailbox upon the opening and subsequent shutting of closure 13. For this purpose holder 21 is elongated and mounted to surface 22 so as to assume a vertical orientation when closure 13 is shut. Formed on holder 21 are a pair of laterally opposed guide means 23 and 24 for slidably receiving and carrying an extended body portion 26 of member 16 as illustrated. Thus in FIGS. 3 and 4 holder 21 carries member 16 for movement to a position in which shoulder means 18 engages perimeter 19 of container 11 and supports signal portion 17 in its exposed exterior display position. Additionally, holder 21 is coupled to signal member 16 by guide means 23 and 24 receiving body portion 26 such that opening of closure 13 pulls member 16 and shoulder means 18 thereof away from perimeter 19 as shown in FIG. 3 by the moved partly open position of the closure in dotted lines. This releases shoulder means 18 from the supported position on perimeter 19 and allows signal member 16 to slide downwardly in guide means 23 and 24 of holder 21 by gravity while closure 13 is being opened but still in a substantially vertical orientation. Alternatively, this downward sliding may occur upon returning closure 13 from its horizontally disposed open position toward its vertical shut position.

Here and preferably, shoulder means 18 is formed by offsetting body portion 26 of member 16 relative to signal portion 17. With member 16 formed of a relatively of a thin material, such as sheet metal, plastic, etc., signal portion 17 and body portion 26 define parallel planes spaced by the offset forming shoulder means 18. Furthermore, this construction advantageously cooperates with closure 13 by permitting an inwardly turned peripheral flange 27 thereof to engage by an interior flange surface 28 a surface 29 of member 16 at the offset therein and opposite the surface providing shoulder means 18 when closure 13 is shut as shown in FIG. 3. Thus in FIG. 3, the offset between the upper signal portion 17 and the low body portion 26 of member 16 is securely held between the surface 28 of the closure flange which confronts the upper surface of perimeter 19 of the container opening 12.

The offset of member 16 may be slightly sloped relative to the horizontal dimension so as to conform to the here sloping surface 28 and sloping perimeter 19 of the curvilinear opening of the mailbox. Moreover, holder 21 and signal member 16 carried thereby are preferably positioned to one side of the center of the mailbox as best shown in FIG. 3 so as to provide clearance between the sliding movement of signal portion 17 and the catch bar 31 of container 11. Accordingly, as closure 13 is opened by pulling handle 32 thereof signal portion 17 passes to one side of catch bar 31 until shoulder means 18 is released and thereupon falls or slides downwardly to a location shown by the dotted line moved position of FIG. 3.

An upper edge 33 of holder 31 may be slightly sloped relative to the holder axis so as to position the holder in the proper vertically extending orientation by abutting the corners or ends of sloping edge 33 with the sloping or curvilinear surface 28 of flange 27. When mounted in place it would be observed that holder 21 secures signal member 16 from removal from the mailbox as the member at one end of its sliding travel is limited by the abutment of the offset with the inner surface 28 of flange 27 and at the other end by a tab stop means 34 provided at the lower end of holder 21. Guide means 23 and 24 provide inwardly turned flanges confronting the body of holder 21 so as to prevent removal of member 16 laterally outwardly from the holder.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a back surface of holder 21 opposite guide means 23 and 24 is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive, such as the type which comes with a protective peel away layer. In this manner, the signaling device may be simply attached by removing the protective layer and pressing back surface 36 of holder 31, with its pressure sensitive adhesive, against inside surface 22 of closure 13. Thus, holder 21 with signal member 16 carried therein may be manufactured and distributed as an inexpensive commodity adapted for such attachment to the mailboxs closure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the numerous fanciful designs which may be employed for signal portions 17 and 42 of the signal members 16 and 41 respectively. Although not shown in the drawings, the signal portions, such as the shell design in FIG. 7, may be embossed or otherwise rendered three dimensional for increased visibility. As an advertising give away, the design carried by signal portions 17 and 42 may be of a companys trademark and logo.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

I claim:

1. A signaling device for a mailbox of the type having a container formed with an access opening and a movable closure for such opening, said closure being movable from a generally vertically closed position to a generally horizontal open position relative to said container opening, the device comprising:

signal means and means for supporting said signal means in an exposed position relative to said box with said signal means being movable therefrom to a hidden position with respect to said box; said means for supporting said signal means comprising shoulder means affixed to said signal means and adapted for engaging an upper exterior surface perimeter of said container opening when said closure is in its closed position, said signal means being provided at the upper portion of a member having a lower portion offset therefrom, the offset between said portions providing said shoulder means for engaging said container perimeter with the upper member portion extending generally upright therefrom and with the lower member portion depending downwardly into said container with the closure in its closed position; and means for attachment to said box and for moving said signal means to said hidden position upon opening of said closure, whereby the hidden position of said signal means indicates that the mail has been delivered, said exposed position of said signal means being exterior of said box and said hidden position being interior thereof; wherein said means for attachment to said box and for moving said signal means is adapted for mounting to the inside surface of said closure, is coupled to said signal means so as to release said shoulder means from said container opening perimeter upon movement of said closure toward its open position, whereby said signal means falls downwardly by gravity and is carried by said closure to a hidden position interiorly of said box upon closing said closure and comprises a holder adapted for said mounting to the inside surface of said closure which includes means for slidably receiving the lower portion of said signal means member such that said member is slidably carried in said holder for movement between a position in which said member offset is engaged with said container perimeter with said clo-v sure in its closed position and a position in which said member is slid downwardly therefrom upon movement of said closure toward its open position.

2. A signaling device for a mailbox as in claim 1 offset lower portion of said signal means slidably fitting between said flanges. 

1. A signaling device for a mailbox of the type having a container formed with an access opening and a movable closure for such opening, said closure being movable from a generally vertically closed position to a generally horizontal open position relative to said container opening, the device comprising: signal means and means for supporting said signal means in an exposed position relative to said box with said signal means being movable theRefrom to a hidden position with respect to said box; said means for supporting said signal means comprising shoulder means affixed to said signal means and adapted for engaging an upper exterior surface perimeter of said container opening when said closure is in its closed position, said signal means being provided at the upper portion of a member having a lower portion offset therefrom, the offset between said portions providing said shoulder means for engaging said container perimeter with the upper member portion extending generally upright therefrom and with the lower member portion depending downwardly into said container with the closure in its closed position; and means for attachment to said box and for moving said signal means to said hidden position upon opening of said closure, whereby the hidden position of said signal means indicates that the mail has been delivered, said exposed position of said signal means being exterior of said box and said hidden position being interior thereof; wherein said means for attachment to said box and for moving said signal means is adapted for mounting to the inside surface of said closure, is coupled to said signal means so as to release said shoulder means from said container opening perimeter upon movement of said closure toward its open position, whereby said signal means falls downwardly by gravity and is carried by said closure to a hidden position interiorly of said box upon closing said closure and comprises a holder adapted for said mounting to the inside surface of said closure which includes means for slidably receiving the lower portion of said signal means member such that said member is slidably carried in said holder for movement between a position in which said member offset is engaged with said container perimeter with said closure in its closed position and a position in which said member is slid downwardly therefrom upon movement of said closure toward its open position.
 2. A signaling device for a mailbox as in claim 1 wherein said holder comprises guide means including two parallel inwardly turned flanges for receiving said offset lower portion of said signal means slidably fitting between said flanges. 